Upgrading PC from XP to Windows 7

chadzimm

New member
Local time
1:18 AM
Messages
1
Just had a few questions....I'm updating my PC with a new motherboard and Processor, adding some RAM as well, along with upgrading my OS from XP to Windows 7. What is the best method of making this upgrade? Do I need to do anything with the Hard Drive? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!
 

My Computer

OS
Windows XP, 64 bit I believe

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Customized build from CyberPower
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP 1
CPU
Intel i5 2500k
Motherboard
Asus P8P67 Deluxe
Memory
8 gigabytes Corsair PC3-12800 DDR3
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GeForce GTX 460 superclocked
Sound Card
Integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
ViewSonic 23" LCD
Screen Resolution
1980 x 1080
Hard Drives
120 Gb Samsung 840 Pro SSD
120 Gb Kingston Hyper X SSD
1 Tb WD Caviar Black HDD
PSU
Coolermaster 1000 watt modular
Case
Coolermaster HAF X full tower
Cooling
Coolermaster Hyper 212 plus
Keyboard
Logitech USB
Mouse
Microsoft 3 button
Internet Speed
download 1.5 Mb/sec upload 300Kb/sec
Just to be clear: to upgrade from XP to Win7, you have no choice. You are not allowed to do an upgrade-in-place, so all of your software will need to be re-installed.

Be sure to save all of your files onto another hard drive before proceeding. I also recommend imaging the XP installation from the old machine, although that won't be of much use in the upgrade.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
homegrown
OS
Windows 7 Pro X64 SP1
CPU
Intel Core I7-3930k
Motherboard
Asus P9X79 Pro
Memory
16 GB Gskill DDR3-2133
Graphics Card(s)
eVGA GTX680
Sound Card
Creative X-Fi Titanium
Monitor(s) Displays
As PA246Q
Screen Resolution
1920 X 1200
Hard Drives
Corsair Force GT, 120 GB
WDC 1.5TB Caviar Black
PSU
PCP&C Silencer 750 Crossfire
Case
Silverstone FT02
Cooling
Noctua NH-D14
Keyboard
cheap Logitech USB
Mouse
Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer (old optical) USB
Internet Speed
6Mb cable
Other Info
Pioneer BDR-205
Samsung SH-203B
Monsoon 5.1 speakers
During booted install following the illustrated steps Jay provided above, be sure to delete all partitions at Steps 6 and 7, create new one(s) as you wish, then format before continuing with install.

Win7 will provide the drivers in the installer and afterwards during several rounds of Important and Optional Updates when you enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3).

Put your wireless or ethernet driver on a stick in case it isn't provided so you can get online quickly to do all of the updates. You can also plug in by ethernet wire during install which does provide the driver in about 75% of installs. Any wireless driver will then likely come in with Updates.

After all rounds of Important and Optional updates are done, any drivers still missing in Device Manager should be imported from the Support downloads webpage for your model PC or device.

Other tips to get and keep a perfect install are the same as these for Clean Reinstall.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Built
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate 32-Bit & Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
CPU
Intel Core i7 CPU 950 @ 3.07GHz
Motherboard
ASUS P6T DELUXE V2
Memory
OCZ 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 OCZ3X1600R2
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series
Sound Card
OnBoard
Hard Drives
WD6400AACS-00M3B0 (640GB SATA )
PSU
CORSAIR 850w
Case
NZXT LEXA
Cooling
Intel Stock Heatsink Fan
Keyboard
Microsoft Wireless Laser Keyboard 7000
Mouse
Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 7000
Back
Top